30 April

(UTC+1)

Events on this day in the life of Manfred von Richthofen

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Holck

Der rote Kampfflieger von Rittmeister Manfred Freiherrn von Richthofen, 1917, 351.000 - 400.000, Verlag Ullstein & Co, Berlin-Wien?p. 74?

30 April 1916
Flughafen Mont
Mont

“As a young pilot, I once flew over Fort Douaumont on a fighter flight, which was under heavy barrage. I saw a German Fokker attacking three Caudrons. Unfortunately for him, there was a very strong westerly wind. In other words, an unfavourable wind. In the course of the battle he was driven out over the town of Verdun. I pointed this out to my observer, who also said that he must be quite a dashing chap. We wondered whether it could be Boelcke and wanted to enquire about it later. But then, to my horror, I saw the attacker turn into a defender. The German was being pushed down more and more by the French, who had now increased their numbers to at least ten aircraft. I couldn’t come to his aid. I was too far away from the fighters and my heavy aeroplane couldn’t cope with the wind. The Fokker fought back desperately. The enemy had already pushed him down to at least six hundred metres. Then he was suddenly attacked again by one of his pursuers. He disappeared in a dive into a cumulus cloud. [75]I breathed a sigh of relief, because I thought that had saved him. When I got home I told him what I had seen and learnt that it was Holck, my old comrade-in-arms from the East, who had recently become a fighter pilot before Verdun. Count Holck had crashed vertically, shot through the head. It was very emotional for me, because he was not only a role model of bravery, he was also a personality like few others.”

Holck

Die Erinnerungen der Mutter des roten Kampffliegers Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen. Im Verlag Ullstein - Berlin, 1937.?p. 74?

30 April 1916
Flughafen Mont
Mont

“We were shocked to hear that Count Holk was no longer alive. …This air on horseback connected him closely with Manfred, who had already had some success as a racing rider before the war and was predicted to have a future in this field. Then the two of them had met in the East, forged an unattached flying life together, transferring the old bold equestrian spirit into the air. …I held Manfred’s letter in my hand for a long time. It left no doubt: Holk had fallen vertically from 3000 metres with head protection; …”

Transcription of the imperial congratulatory telegram

Der rote Kampfflieger von Rittmeister Manfred Freiherrn von Richthofen, 1917, 351.000 - 400.000, Verlag Ullstein & Co, Berlin-Wien?p. 160?

30 April 1917
Roucourt

“Transcription of the imperial congratulatory telegram: recorded on 30. IV. 1917. 4 o’clock 20 min. before from the Gr. H. Qu. To Krg. schl homb. 27. 29. IV. 8h nachm. Rittm. Freih. von Richthofen Jagdstaffel Richthofen. by A.O.K.G. I have just been informed that you have emerged victorious from aerial combat for the 50th time today. I offer you my heartfelt congratulations and my fullest appreciation for this brilliant success. The fatherland looks with admiration and gratitude at its brave aviator. May God continue to be with you. Wilhelm I. R.”

The newspaper

Die Erinnerungen der Mutter des roten Kampffliegers Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen. Im Verlag Ullstein - Berlin, 1937.?p. 105?

30 April 1917
Roucourt

“Manfred achieves his forty-fourth aerial victory; a few days later his victory tally jumps to 50! He is in all the newspapers, on everyone’s lips; the banner flies over his name. Cities honour him, majesties telegraph. No sooner have the congratulations arrived than a new victory flies the flag up the flagpole.”

His successor Reinhard speaks

Richthofen, Beyond the legend of the Red Baron, Peter Kilduff, Arms and Armour, 1993?p. 209?

30 April 1918
Cappy

“The death of the Rittmeister has affected me very much; for, as you know, he was a dear comrade and a pleasant superior. I cannot really comprehend that such an outstanding man is no longer with us… It seems now to have been proved definitely that he has fallen due to ground machine gun, a lucky hit in the heart area. For a flyer that is no beautiful death. One prefers it to fall in aerial combat.

Three days ago I was appointed Kommandeur of the Geschwader, therefore as his successor. A hard task. It is good only that he spoke with me often, when he thought about succession. I will carry out that he instilled in me, at the risk that my subordinates will not agree and that it (might) cost me my position. I owe that to his memory…

My goal will now be to influence the Geschwader by personal example, i.e. to shoot down more than anyone else. When with Jasta 6, I could shoot down calmly and take my time. I intended to relax after my seventeenth victory. That has been dropped. For two to three months long my hands and my feet have been bandaged and when I get up every morning I wish for good weather so that we can (engage in) air fights. Unfortunately, that has not been the case in the last eight days and then we had Frenchmen against us and they are lukewarm…

Now to share a small joy with you: Yesterday I received the Hohenzollern, for which I was nominated by the Rittmeister after my eighth. It is so sad that he could not have presented it to me personally, then the award would have given me more pleasure.”

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